IGGG.] THE MERRY MO X ARC IPS EIRST VISEE. 219 



" Jtcm — The plate or prize is to be run for tlie second 

 Thursday in October, every rider carrying twelve stone 

 weight, at fourteen pounds to the stone, besides bridle 

 and saddle ; and if any gentleman that rides shall carry 

 weight in his saddle, he shall have liberty, provided he 

 allows two pounds to the rest for the weight of their 

 saddles. 



" Item — The Clerk of the Race is to summons the riders to 

 start again at the end of half an hour by the signal of 

 drum, trumpet, or any other way, setting up an hour glass 

 for that purpose. 



" Jtcm — No man is admitted to ride for this prize that is either 

 a serving man or groom. 



" Item — Those horses that after the running of the three heats 

 shall run the four mile course, shall lead away, and start 

 within an hour and halfe, or else to win no plate or 

 prize." * 



The first regal visit made by Charles II. to 

 Newmarket, after the restoration, did not take place 

 until March, 1666. Bearino- in mind the „^ , „ 



' ^ Charles II. 



prevalence of the king's sojourns at New- I666. 



. , . , , March. 



market at subsequent times, and the par- 

 tiality he so frequently evinced for the " royal village " 

 and its associations, it appears strange that he should 

 have allowed six years to pass before he first came 

 hither as sovereign. It is difficult to satisfactorily 

 account for this. It may be attributed partly to his 

 natural indolence, and to the seductive attractions 

 of his gay court at Whitehall, Windsor, and Hampton, 

 and partly to the absence of the luxuries he indulged 

 in at those places being entirely wanting at New- 



* MS. in the possession of the Jorkey Club, Newmarket, contributed 

 by William C. Manning, Esquire, custodian. 



